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best fests!

best fests!
Experience the finest
summer events in Canada's party-hardy North

There’s tons of great reasons to visit the Northwest Territories this time of year, like the midnight sun, golden lakes, and 40-pound trout. But our best summer feature is our festivals. Check out famous Folk on the Rocks, a weekend-long musical extravaganza on the shores of Yellowknife's Long Lake. Revel in Indigenous performances, paintings, sculptures and crafts at the Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik. Or tee off in the world's northernmost golf tourney, the Billy Joss Open in exotic Ulukhaktok.

A dizzying showcase of polar sights and sounds, the Arctic's greatest gathering of creative types happens July 13-22, 2018 in the heart of colourful Inuvik. Witness (and perhaps purchase!) the masterworks of 80-plus printmakers, carvers, ceramic artists and more, and experience dozens of drum-dancers, throatsingers and actors from across the Canadian and circumpolar Norths.

Sprawling across the stony tundra of Victoria Island in Canada's High Arctic, the world's northernmost golf course is delightfully 'in the rough.' The finest time to hit the links is during the Billy Joss Open, happening the third week of July 2018, when the pros of friendly Ulukhaktok welcome adventuresome duffers to tee off in a tourney for Northern literacy.

The North's biggest music festival takes the stage July 20-22, 2018 at Long Lake near Yellowknife for a groovy, glorious weekend of local, national and global music, plus specialty food, arts and crafts. The artists Stars, Whitehorse and the Weather Station are this year's headliners.

If your rhythm is mellower than Folk on the Rocks, head to the top of the world for this down-home musical shindig. Happening July 27-29, 2018, the festival boasts Inuvialuit performers, a traditional jigging contest, and a cookout that's likely to feature Arctic delicacies. It all happens just metres from the Arctic Ocean, in view of the famous 'pingo' mounds that loom over little Tuktoyaktuk.

Up north, canoeing and kayaking are a splash, and never more so than at Paddlefest, Fort Smith's annual celebration of frothy fun on Canada's finest whitewater river. From August 3-6, 2018, there will be races, contests, lessons and shore-side entertainment for everyone from landlubbing novices to playboating pros.

Weird and wonderful, this August 4-5, 2018 event celebrates the North's most charming neighborhood, offbeat Old Town, Yellowknife. With booths and stages sprinkled among the lakeview shacks and mansions, it's an eco-friendly festival that brings together local merchants, artists and musicians for tunes, craft sales, demonstrations, rides and more.

When night comes back to the North, stargazers and Aurora-watchers flock to Wood Buffalo National Park, the world's largest 'dark sky preserve.' There, from August 23-26, 2018, the local astronomical society will set up telescopes, present 'stellar seminars' and other workshops, and host the Circus of Science for kids.

Hosted by legendary Trout Rock Lodge on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake not far from Yellowknife, the 26th-annual Trout Rock Fly-Fishing Derby features fly-fishing lessons, shore lunches, idyllic Northland scenery, and more feisty Pike than you can swing a rod at. The fish bite all summer, but the derby happens July 5-7, 2019.

Take a trip back in timeTake a trip back in time

The Mackenzie Delta has the highest concentration of pingos on Earth – approximately 1,350 of them. Eight, including famous Ibyuk PIngo and Split Pingo, are protected by Parks Canada in the 16-square-kilometre Pingo National Landmark outside Tuktoyaktuk. They range from five meters to 70...

Aulavik National Park
Aulavik is our northernmost park, reaching across the pristine, wide-open lowlands of Banks Island. It’s famous for two things: the Thomsen River and muskoxen. The Thomsen, calm and crystal-clear, slides through this Arctic paradise carrying...

Wood Buffalo National Park
Bigger than Switzerland, this is Canada’s largest park – and maybe its most intriguing. Founded to protect the Western Hemisphere’s most hefty land animal, the rare wood bison, the park bestrides the NWT/Alberta border, taking in sweeping...

Nahanni National Park Reserve
Nahanni, the best-known Northern park, showcases the South Nahanni River, possibly Canada’s most epic waterway. Framed by four towering canyons, the river spills through the alpine habitat of broad-shouldered bears, nimble Dall’s sheep...

Fort Smith Mission Heritage Park is all that remains of the original 151-acre Oblate Catholic Mission in what is now the centre of Fort Smith.
For a period of a century between 1876 and the early 1980s, the Roman Catholic Church operated its mission to the entire Western Arctic from here....

Nestled on the side of Caribou Creek approxiumately 40 kilometres north of Tsiigehtchic on the Dempster HIghway, Vadzaih Van Tshik Territorial Park well-protected from the elements by the steep cliffs nearby. Birds of prey glide high above, while kingfishers are occasionally seen...

This park features a small picnic area, washrooms and a short trail leading to the 17-metre McNallie Creek Falls. At the viewing platform, a plaque explains the origin of the creek's name. Look for the cliff swallows nesting in the ravine walls.

Don’t be deceived by the apparent size of Prosperous Lake as seen from the shore – the main body of the lake is out of sight! This boat launch provides access to Prosperous Lake, which stretches approximately 16 kilometres north.

Located on Madeline Lake, this park is a perfect place to enjoy a meal at one of its several picnic sites equipped with tables and firepits. Use the boat launch and dock area to access the lake for powerboating and watersports. Madeline Lake is usually calm due to its sheltered location and...

Located on the Yellowknife River, the park is a perfect place to enjoy a picnic or fishing. There are washrooms here, a picnic area and playground, trails and a boat launch. For the more adventurous, boat up the river and into the string of lakes it connects to; or head into Back Bay and...

Located on the south bank of the mighty Mackenzie River where it empties out of Great Slave Lake, just a short way from the Mackenzie River ferry crossing at Fort Providence, this us great spot to take a break before continuing your journey north or south. You'll find washooms, a picnic...

Located in the heart of Inuvik, this park offers 19 powered and eight non-powered sites, and convenient access to the town’s attractions. The park is situated on a bluff overlooking the east branch of the Mackenzie River, with a view of the Richardson Mountains. It ifeatures washrooms, showers...

This park is perched on a cliff overlooking the Peel River and surrounded by stands of white birch and white spruce trees. It's an ideal place to unwind for a few nights on the long journey up or down the Dempster. The visitor centre offers a fascinating glimpse of the life of the Gwich’in Dene...

Just outside Inuvik, this park features an observation tower with excellent views of the surrounding scenery and prime bird-watching. Watch for falcons, eagles and ducks, our summer residents. There is an abundance of cranberries, blueberries and cloudberries that give the park its name. The...

On the banks of the Mackenzie River in Norman Wells, MacKinnon Territorial Park offers a great view of the Mackenzie Mountains and is a perfect stop for river-trippers. There are eight non-powered campsites, washrooms, firewood, a picnic area and a playground.

Two peninsulas on Great Bear, covering 5,565 square kilometers, were designated as a national historic site in 2009. At that time, Parks Canada and the community of Délįne signed a first-of-its-kind deal where the sites – called Saoyú (saw-you-eh), or Grizzly Bear...

The Deh Cho Bridge near Fort Providence is the only bridge to straddle Canada’s biggest river, the Mackenzie. It's twice as long as any other bridge in Northern Canada. It was also the costliest piece of infrastructure in territorial history, with a price tag of $202 million. RIsing...

Possibly the North’s most iconic, most photographed structure, the Our Lady of Victory church in downtown Inuvik is a bleach-white cylinder capped by a silvery dome, imitating the Inuvialuit snow-houses of old. The inside features paintings by local artist Mona Thrasher.

On the floodplain where the Liard River flows into the great Mackenzie, Pope John Paul II held mass for the Indigenous people of Canada nearly three decades ago. Thousands gathered as the world turned its eyes toward the Northwest Territories. Today the scenic site hosts community events,...

This big boreal reserve protects Canada’s northernmost population of wood buffalo, which are almost inevitably seen browsing along Highway 3. Roadside parks in the area – including North Arm and Chan Lake – provide an opportunity to stretch your legs and explore the area’s flora and landscape.

The North's most colourful neighbourhood bobs on the waves of Great Slave Lake, just offshore of Old Town. Rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore this floating community – or bunk down at the houseboat bed-and-breakfast.

The North's iconic eatery, the log-cabin Wildcat is where the world comes to dine. You'll find that the ambience is rustic, the food is divine, the deck is bathed in sunshine, the beer is crisp and your fellow patrons are a wild array: Northerners and visitors both, gathered around communal...

Nááts’ihch’oh National Park
Nááts’ihch’oh, meaning “the mountain that’s sharp like a porcupine,” is named for a spine-like peak long sacred to the region’s First Nations. Nááts’ihch’oh is the Northwest Territories’ newest national park, officially created in 2014 in...

Meaning “Land of the Ancestors,” Thaidene Nëné is a park-in-waiting, slated for federal and territorial protection in the next few years. The park will guard the glorious East Arm of Great Slave Lake – 27,000 square kilometres of spectacular and pristine waterways, ...

Located in Hay River’s Old Town, this museum occupies the community’s former Hudson’s Bay store, built in 1948. In it, you’ll find displays showcasing the various eras of the town’s history, as well as exhibits on Métis and K’atl’odeeche Dene culture.

Located in a distinctive log-and-stone building on the main road of the Katlodeeche Reserve across from the town of Hay River, Yamozha Kue (a.k.a. the Dene Cultural Institute) lets you trade in your shoes for beaded moccasins and take a tour of Dene art and history. The gift shop sells crafts...

Perched on the shores of Yellowknife's Frame Lake, the igloo-shaped territorial assembly building is the North’s centre of power. Take a tour and you’ll get a peek at the stately assembly chamber; the ornate, diamond-tipped territorial mace; artworks by Group of Seven master A.Y. Jackson...

Norman Wells lovingly curated history museum showcases the multifaceted events that shaped this region. Colourful military vehicles from the building of the legendary Canol Road sit bumper-to-bumper in the yard, while inside you’ll find memorabilia from the oil-boom nearly a century ago,...

The most quaint museum in the Northwest Territories, this hand-built log structure in tiny Colville Lake features paintings by famed local priest, pilot, and town-founder Bern Will Brown, as well as the North’s first snowmobile.

In the heart of Fort Smith, this must-see museum showcases the area’s First Nations, Métis and Euro-Canadian heritage. It boasts a collection of some 10,000 items, including local man Frank Conibear’s famous trap, which revolutionized fur-harvesting, and the stuffed body of Canus, a whooping...

The granddaddy of Northern museums, Yellowknife’s voluminous Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre has it all – from biplanes to gold-mining memorabilia to Dene mooseskin boats. In addition to all the exhibits there’s an interactive play area for kids (complete with a miniature...

Enjoy the spectacular shoreline of Campbell Lake, try your luck fishing, hike in search of unique rocks and fossils, or hit the beach for a swim above the Arctic Circle. There are just a few of the options available at Gwich'in Territorial Campground, about 30 kilometres south of Inuvik on the...

This idyllic park overlooks the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers, yet is within walking distance of the centre of town. The adjoining Papal Site commemorates the 1987 visit of Pope John Paul ll. This is a great location for bird-watching, while the nearby community...

Located on the scenic Buffalo River about 20 kilometres shy of Fort Resolution, this placid campground features 20 campsites, washrooms, a kitchen shleter and picnic area, firewood, a boat launch, and excellent fishing.

Between Fort Liard and Fort Simpson on the Liard Trail, Blackstone Territorial Park boasts stunning mountain views and a prime location on the Liard River, downstream from its confluence with the South Nahanni. This is an excellent starting or ending point for canoeists, boaters...

The largest developed park on the Ingraham Trail, Prelude Lake Territorial Park offers a variety of facilities. There are trails,a sandy beach for swimming, a dock and boat launch, and boat rentals. The island-filled lake, about 16 kilometers long, forms part of the Cameron River system and...

Swim at Long Lake’s sandy beach. Camp, picnic, canoe or enjoy the amenities and attractions of nearby Yellowknife. Hike the four-kilometre Prospector’s Trail, highlighting the gold-bearing geology of the area. Or follow the Jackfish and Frame Lake trail system, leading you through...

This picturesque spot features six non-powered campsites. The area was devastated by a forest fire in 1981; nearly 40 years later it is now an ideal spot to observe how nature replenishes the land. Relax by the small waterfall, launch your canoe in the gorge below, and enjoy the...

Enjoy great fishing, bison and bird watching, and take advantage of the services available in nearby historic Fort Providence, featuring visitor services, tours, fishing, groceries, a motel and restaurant. The campground is on the north bank of the Mackenzie River, only two kilometres off...

Located on Vale Island in Hay River, (follow the signs; it’s about 10 kilometres past the information centre), this park offers fantastic swimming on the sandy shores of Great Slave Lake, unique views of barges and fishing vessels plying the waters, and great opportunities to fish for...

This popular park and campground are located at the junction of Highway 1 and the Trout River (Sambaa Deh in the Slavey language). The river was a traditional transportation route before and during the fur trade. The falls forced travellers to portage around this dangerous stretch of...

Located just outside Fort Smith, this large, lushly wooded campground features 17 powered campsites, showers and washrooms, a kitchen shelter, firewood, a playground, and a walking trail leading to great views of the Slave River Rapids.

Make the trip to see the falls, even if you do not plan to camp overnight. From the Mackenzie Highway, an access road leads 6.8 kilometres south to the park. From the parking lot, a short trail leads to Lady Evelyn Falls. The falls form a giant curtain of water as the Kakisa River spills...

For a pretty little hike through classic Northern shield-country, drive 45 kilometres east of Yellowknife to the Cameron Falls Trail. The path twists through evergreen forests, across boardwalks and over undulating outcrops until, 20 minutes later, you arrive atop a lookout...

A must-see attraction on highway 1 from Fort Providence to Fort Simpson, the Sambaa Deh Gorge gapes where the Trout River slices through thick spruce woodlands not far from the community of Jean Marie River. Most visitors photograph the roadside falls, where the river...

Following the rim of the gorgeous Hay River canyon, the easy Twin Falls Gorge trail begins at the community of Enterprise and leads south for eight kilometres through luxuriant boreal forest. Along the way you'll enjoy interpretive signage, great views of the yawning limestone chasm...

Forming a seven-kilometre loop around the shores of Frame Lake in the heart of Yellowknife, the city's favourite walking trail has a little of everything. The eastern half of the loop is a paved, sedate urban path, leading you past architectural marvels such as the territorial legislative...

What in the world? Just west of Fort Smith in Wood Buffalo National Park lies a shimmering, pearly desert, stretching to the far horizon. A quick hike downhill will bring you to the bizarre Salt Plains, where saline minerals leach from an ancient seabed, turning the...

There's hiking, and then there's the Canol. Possibly North America's most rigorous backpacking trail, this 355-kilometre trek follows the route of a defunct military road that once transected the Mackenzie Mountains. Tackling it is an exercise in self-sufficiency and endurance:...

Erupting from the pancake-flat tundra just outside the community of Tuktoyaktuk, this bulbous, ice-filled mound is the second-largest "pingo" on Earth. Called Ibyuk, it's 1,000 feet wide at its base and rises to the height of a 15-storey building, making its summit a scenic and...

Perched on the banks of the Mackenzie, this placid, timber-shrouded campground is an ideal basecamp for fishing the big river and exploring the town of Fort Providence, three kilometres downstream. You’ll find powered campsites, potable water, showers, picnic tables, fire grates – and incredible...

For roadtrippers, this is an ideal spot to stretch your legs, lay out a picnic and enjoy your first glimpse of the big Mackenzie River as it begins its 1,750-kilometre odyssey to the Arctic Ocean. Situated just a few kilometres shy of the Dehcho Bridge and the community of Fort Providence, Dory...

A four-kilometre dayhike downriver from Alexandra Falls or upriver from Enterprise, this tiered, 15-metre-high cataract in the Hay River Canyon can be viewed from one of the finest (and most popular) campgrounds in the Northwest Territories.

A mandatory stop on the drive North of Sixty, this booming, 10-storey spillover on the Hay River is the centerpiece of Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park, not far from Enterprise. Shockingly, in 2003, an American daredevil kayaked the falls – and lived.

About 45 minutes by road east of Yellowknife, a short, scenic trail leads over the undulating outcrops to 17-metre Cameron Falls. Here, the Cameron River takes a tumble en route to Great Slave Lake. A bridge straddles the river, allowing picknickers to access the placid bank on the far...

So perfect it seems planned, this road-accessible cascade is just outside the little village of Kakisa. It occurs where the Kakisa River jumps off an ancient coral reef, forming a crescent-shaped, 17-metre-high curtain of spray.

The finest beach and campground in Wood Buffalo National Park, Pine Lake features soothing sand and shallow, warm, aquamarine waters, ideal for swimming or paddling when you're tired of gawking at the park's amazing wildlife.

Built in 2009, Inuvik's Road’s End Golf Club boasts a grassy, 250-yard driving range and a three-hole course. Keep an eye out for ravens as you swing – the course once had to close when the sneaky birds made off with all the golf balls.

Located next Norman Wells' Heritage Hotel near the banks of the Mackenzie River, the grassy, evergreen-lined Ptarmigan Ridge course offers the only golfing in the Sahtu region, with four holes – soon to be expanded to six.

Within easy walking distance of downtown Fort Simpson, the Seven Spruce Golf Course in features rolling, grassy fairways and a laid-back vibe. Rent clubs and tackle the sun-soaked nine-hole course or put up your feet in the clubhouse for a relaxing afternoon.

With artificial greens atop the tundra, Ulukhaktok is the coolest place you’ll play golf. The town’s nine-hole course if the world’s northernmost, and the annual Billy Joss Open draws visiting celebrity golfers. Word to the wise: Let the muskoxen play through.

Eighteen holes. Sand fairways. Grassy putting greens. Jackpines, bedrock and ravens. It’s safe to say you’ll never play golf anywhere like the Yellowknife Golf Club – especially if you come for the Midnight Sun Golf Tournament, which tees off on the summer solstice every year.

This manicured nine-hole course follows the curvaceous contours of Hay River’s namesake river. Grassy and aspen-shrouded, it’s a duffer’s delight. There’s also a driving range and a beautiful log clubhouse with a deck overlooking the water – a great place to spend the afternoon even if golf...

Tuktut Nogait National Park
Tuktut Nogait, meaning “young caribou,” is one of Canada’s least visited parks, protecting the calving grounds of the 68,000-strong Bluenose caribou herd near the shores of the Northwest Passage. Most visitors experience the park while...

Nááts’ihch’oh, named for a sacred mountain in its midst, is our newest park. Tucked against the Yukon border, it guards the headwaters of both the Nahanni and the Natla/Keele river systems. Paddlers can traverse the South Nahanni’s “rock garden,” featuring 50km of continuous rapids, or try the less...

For most of its length the broad Slave River plods over the boreal plains, sliding listlessly toward Great Slave Lake. But at the point where it hits the Northwest Territories border, it is suddenly stirred by the Canadian Shield and detonates into a maelstrom. Beginning at Fort Fitzgerald and...

One of the most popular parks in the Northwest Territories, Twin Falls boasts a wealth of attractions. The park, 75 kilometres north of the Alberta border, stretches along the rim of Twin Falls Gorge, encompassing 32-metre-high Alexnadra Falls, where the Hay River plunges into a deep...

Just a few dozen metres from the heart of Enterprise, the earth falls away and a gaping chasm yawns. This is the Twin Falls Gorge, a Grand Canyon in miniature. Here, sheer limestone walls glitter like shimmering sand, while the rim is lined with a dark wall of evergreens. Hundreds of feet below,...

The Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the second longest river in North America, and its tributaries drain a fifth of Canada. The river rises in Great Slave Lake near Fort Providence and flows 1738 kilometres to the Mackenzie Delta and Arctic Ocean. This was Deh Cho (big river) to...

Delta Ice Roads
From January to April, ice roads connect Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Visitors can rent a vehicle and drive the winding river and stream route to Aklavik. For a wildly different sense of place, it is still possible to drive on the Mackenzie...

Rivers to the Arctic
Historically, the Dene travelled up the Yellowknife River from Great Slave Lake and crossed the height of land near Snare Lake to the Coppermine River on the way to the Barrenlands. Sir John Franklin was saved from starvation by the Dene near Snare Lake in 1820. Today,...

The Ingraham Trail
The Ingraham Trail stretches 70 kilometers east of Yellowknife threading together over a dozen lakes. There are picnic spots, hiking trails, campgrounds and boat launches all along the highway. It is terrific fishing, hiking, boating and canoeing country.
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East Arm
Great Slave Lake's East Arm is a world class scenic and geological wonder. Spectacular cliffs drop 180 metres into the tenth largest lake in the world. The scenery is primeval, the result of glaciation in North America and of a clearly visible fault in the earth's crust. This is the...

Great Bear Lake
Sahtu is the Dene name for gigantic Great Bear Lake. It means "bear waters," and might refer to the presence of barrenland grizzlies on the lake's eastern shores. Great Bear Lake is among the planet's largest bodies of fresh water, with a surface area of 31,400 sq km and...

Cirque of the Unclimbables
A challenge for world class mountaineers, the Cirque is located in the Ragged Range, near Glacier Lake, Northwest Territories. The Cirque's most famous peak – a must for every serious climber - is the Lotus Flower Tower, featured in Fifty Classic Climbs in North...

Yellowknife's most popular lookout rises above Old Town, providing a stupendous view over Great Slave Lake, Back Bay and the northern reaches of the city. The monument is high up on "The Rock," and is accessed via a winding staircase to the top. It is dedicated to the bush pilots and...

Located at the North-Wright dock on DOT Lake, you'll find two log buildings here – one the original North-Wright base, and one built by Canoe North Adventures as a shelter for canoeists in transit. In addition, there are small buildings once used by the four airlines that operated in...

Enjoy a break from driving at this roadside park, offering washrooms, a kitchen shelter and a boat launch. Stop and rest on the picturesque shores of Great Slave Lake to take photos or simply to relax with a picnic. Be sure to look around you – the scenery abruptly changes here from...

Powder Point Day Use Area is located within Hidden Lake Territorial Park on the Ingraham Trail, a little more than 45 kilometres east of Yellowknife on the eastern arm of Prelude Lake. Powder Point offers access to both the the Lower Cameron River Canoe Route and the Powder Point Canoe Route....

The Dempster Highway serves as a boundary for this 8,800-hectare park, which includes two campgrounds (Vadzaih Van Tshik Campground and Gwich’in Territorial Campground), two day-use areas (Ehjuu NJik and Nihtak) and Tithegeh Chii Vitaii Lookout. The park is home to a...

Back Bay Cemetery, a City of Yellowknife Heritage Site, consists of 35 gravesites from 1936-46. The cemetery is located along the waterfront in Jackfish Draw, adjacent to Back Bay, on Great Slave Lake. It was Yellowknife's first graveyard, associated with many pioneering...

Built around 1880, this single-storey log church, complete with a gable roof and wooden steeple, is one of the oldest standing buildings in the Northwest Territories. It is located on the former Hudson's Bay lot in the historic centre of the community. The dovetailed log...

The trading post known as Knut Lang’s Place is on the Peel Channel of the Mackenzie Delta, about 48 kilometres upstream from Aklavik. The post was built in the 1930s and includes includes standing log buildings, some with sod roofs. It was built by independent trader Knut...

The Hay River Mission is a National Historic Site on the Hay River (K'atlodeeche) Dene Reserve. Established in the late 19th century, the site consists of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ste. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, remains of a rectory, and associated cemeteries containing spirit...

Built in the early 1930s as a blacksmith shop, this single-storey log building was originally situated on what is now the Giant Mine property. After being moved to its current location near City Hall it became a tourist information centre (1978-1992), and, now, an...

Built in 1946 on the waterfront in Old Town, this City of Yellowknife Heritage Site was the city's first permanent floatplane base. Many aviation pioneers once worked out of this building, including Stan McMillan and Max Ward. In earlier years, the large hall was also used for social...

Located at 7 Otto Drive on Latham Island, this log cabin is one of Yellowknife's oldest surviving buildings. Built in 1938 as a private residence, the city's Bank of Toronto branch opened here six years later. Allan Lambert, former president and chairman of the Toronto Dominion...

Donated on behalf of Pope Pius XI in the 1930s, the schooner Our Lady of Lourdes sailed the Beaufort Sea for decades, delivering supplies to far-flung Catholic missions and carrying Inuvialuit children to Cathloic residential schools. Since 1982 the vessel has sat on display...

This seven-kilometre loop around Frame Lake is the recreation trail for activity in the heart of the capital. While the eastern half is paved and passes by residential neighbourhoods, the western half consists of boardwalks over muskeg and wayfinding over rolling, forested-shrouded...

Foot bridges over streams and gullies on town walking trails are constructed of huge driftwood logs from southern forests. The logs, salvaged along the Mackenzie River, are woven into the supports for some unique and attractive bridges designed by local resident and outfitter Rick Muyers.

Established in 1970 to stimulate employment in Fort McPherson, this community-based enterprise combines local traditional skills with current manufacturing and production methods to craft a wide selection of products, from canvas tents to cordura nylon travel bags to...

Built in 1936, this one-and-a-half storey squared-log dwelling overlooks the Papal Flats in Fort Simpson. An excellent example of Metis architecture, it is located at the southern edge of the original Hudson’s Bay Company compound and is an icon of the fur-trade ...

On the flats at the southwestern end of Fort Simpson Island, for centuries Dene gathered at this site during their seasonal rounds to allocate land use, arrange marriages, resolve disputes, hold puberty rites, undertake ceremonies of healing and thanksgiving, and trade goods and ...

​The Lafferty House is a one-and-a-half storey squared-log dwelling built circa 1929, located at the north end of the village of Fort Simpson, close to the waterfront. It was built by the Laffertys, a proud Metis family who have been in the Fort Simpson area since 1790 and were...

The Old Log School House was the first school in Yellowknife. It was built in 1937 by prominent Yellowknife pioneers Ray G. 'Red' McPhie and 'Sleepy Jim' McDonald. Originally used as a mining kitchen and bunkhouse, it became a one-room schoolhouse in 1939, where Mildred Hall presided...

Perched on a pillar near the entrance to town, the yellow and blue Bristol Freighter airplane greets visitors to Yellowknife, reminding them of the region's vital aviation history. Bush planes such as this one fed the development of the town, bringing people and supplies before...

Direclty across HIghway 3 from the Northern Frontier Visitor Centre, this easy two-kilometre loop explores the shoreline of a small marshy lake in the heart of a Yellowknife residential neighbourhood. Despite its urban location, Niven Lake is rich in wildlife, with beavers, muskrats...

One of the most diverse, historic, offbeat neighbourhoods in Canada, Old Town is the beating heart of Yellowknife. Here, where the Precambrain Shield juts into Great Slave Lake, goldseekers 80 years ago pioneered what was to become the North's greatest settlement. Today the area is an intriguing...

On the shores of Frame Lake in front of City Hall, this grassy park is Yellowknife's favourite gathering place. In summer, musical performances are common at the waterfront ampitheatre, and various attractions – the museum, the visitor centre, Firewood Studio, a towering drum-dance sculpture, etc...

The closest thing to whitewater on the mighty Mackenzie River, this fast-flowing section occurs a few kilometres upstream from Fort Good Hope where the river is choked between 40-metre-high limestone cliffs.

Legendary prospector Albert Faille spent his life hutning for gold in the Nahanni Mountains. Each spring from the 1950s until his death in 1973 he journeyed up the Liard and Nahanni rivers from his home in Fort Simpson, portaging around the great Virginia Falls and...

On September 20, 1987, on the flats where the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers flow together above Fort Simpson, as many as 4,000 people – mostly Dene – gathered to welcome Pope John Paul II. It was the first time any pope had ever visited an Aboriginal community. His Holiness, wearing a caribou-skin...

The oldest and certainly the most ornate place of worship in the North, this tiny cathedral crowns a bluff overlooking the Mackenzie River in Fort Good Hope. Built starting in 1865 by Oblate missionaries – including the famed Father Émile Petitot –­ the church from the outside is whitewashed, steep...

In the depths of December, 1931, an enigmatic loner calling himself Albert Johnson shot and injured a policeman near the Rat River, not far from Aklavik. He then led authorities on a two-month goose-chase that was broadcast via radio around the world. As the sign beside his grave says, “With...

Towering 400 metres above Tulita, sacred Bear Rock is said to be where Yamoria, the great law-giver of Dene lore, confronted a gang of giant beavers that had been drowning hunters. Yamoria killed three of the beavers and draped their vast pelts on Bear Rock – forming three dark circles that...

Here, on this rectangular peninsula jutting northward into Great Slave Lake, the Northern fur-trade got its foothold. Parks Canada has designated this 8.8-hectare expanse – long the site of a Hudson Bay Company post – as a national historic site. It and other trading posts in the region began...

Floatplane charter service using classic DHC-2 Beaver aircraft based in Yellowknife's historic Old Town. Sightseeing flights over Yellowknife and surrounding areas, day trips, and transportation to remote camps, fishing... Read more

North-Wright Airways is the Sahtu Region's premier air service. We are located 145 km (90 miles) south of the Arctic Circle in the heart of the Sahtu Region, at Norman Wells, Northwest Territories and we have bases in... Read more

100% Indigenous owned 50,000 years of experience! We are from Yellowknife, we know Yellowknife! We offer fun Day Tours in both Summer and Winter seasons. We also offer once in a lifetime multi-... Read more

If Fishing, Muskox/Nature,Aurora veiwing or good family fun is what you are looking for, Nonacho Lake offers it all. We are the only operators on Nonacho Lake, which is the 8th largest lake (800sq.km) in the NWT.... Read more

For over 30 years we have delivered guided natural history/wilderness adventures by canoe and raft. Our qualified and friendly guides are authorities on the Nahanni, Cirque of the Unclimbables and we maintain a low... Read more

Hearne Lake Lodge is a remote fly-in fishing lodge only 20-minute floatplane ride east of Yellowknife. To serve you better, we limit ourselves to eight guests at one time, open June to mid-September. We are fishing... Read more

Carved out of the ancient Northern Boreal Forest, the Hay River Golf Course is a fabulous recreational facility. This tree lined 9-hole course featuring artificial greens will challenge any golfer. The scenery is... Read more

Since 1987, offering guided canoe trips and hiking expeditions, logistical support and rentals for self-guided clients accessed through Norman Wells in the Sahtu Region of the Northwest Territories including the... Read more

For more than 40 years, Canoe Arctic Inc. has operated guided canoe trips on the most remote wild rivers left on our planet. With chartered amphibian aircraft based in Fort Smith, we fly our clientele in to the Thelon... Read more

For more than 40 years, Canoe Arctic Inc. has operated guided canoe trips on the most remote wild rivers left on our planet. With chartered amphibian aircraft based in Fort Smith, we fly our clientele in to the Thelon... Read more

Real Arctic Adventure Tours out of Inuvik - way up north above the Arctic Circle! We offer a variety of summer and winter tours. In summer we feature Cultural Tuk Tours, a spectacular flying tour and community tour of ... Read more

Air Tindi is an airline company based in Yellowknife offering flights to a number of diverse destinations within Canada’s spectacular Northwest Territories! Since 1988, it is has been our pleasure to provide safe,... Read more

There are many stories written here on this northern landscape, in the movement in the animals, in the growth of a jack pine, and in the people who live here. Strong Interpretation is here to interpret those stories... Read more

Thinking about visiting Canada's North? Let us organize your trip so you can focus on enjoying your #AuthenticArcticExperience! Local tour operator offering tours in the Mackenzie Delta area, including boat and flight... Read more

Spectacular NWT Tourism "2017 Operator of the Year!"
Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. ... Read more

Spectacular NWT Tourism "2017 Operator of the Year!"
Yellow Dog Lodge is a comfortable lodge with 3 private cabins for our guests. The lodge is a short (15 minute) floatplane ride from Yellowknife. ... Read more

Swim at Long Lake’s sandy beach. Camp, picnic, canoe or enjoy the amenities and attractions of nearby Yellowknife. Hike the four-kilometre Prospector’s Trail, highlighting the gold-bearing geology of the area. Or follow... Read more

The largest developed park on the Ingraham Trail, Prelude Lake Territorial Park offers a variety of facilities. There are trails,a sandy beach for swimming, a dock and boat launch, and boat rentals. The island-filled... Read more

Reid Lake is also an excellent base for fishing, swimming, canoeing, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, power boating, and for extended canoe trips into the surrounding lake systems. From here, canoeists can... Read more

Enjoy great fishing, bison and bird watching, and take advantage of the services available in nearby historic Fort Providence, featuring visitor services, tours, fishing, groceries, a motel and restaurant. The... Read more

Located on Vale Island in Hay River, (follow the signs; it’s about 10 kilometres past the information centre), this park offers fantastic swimming on the sandy shores of Great Slave Lake, unique views of barges and... Read more

Make the trip to see the falls, even if you do not plan to camp overnight. From the Mackenzie Highway, an access road leads 6.8 kilometres south to the park. From the parking lot, a short trail leads to Lady Evelyn... Read more

Located just outside Fort Smith, this large, lushly wooded campground features 17 powered campsites, showers and washrooms, a kitchen shelter, firewood, a playground, and a walking trail leading to great views of the... Read more

This park is what we call a "destination park," and with good reason. The sights to be seen are spectacular, the camping facilities excellent, the peace and tranquility are another world. The park has three main areas,... Read more

Midway between Fort Simpson and Fort Liard on the Liard Trail, Blackstone Territorial Park boasts stunning mountain views and a prime location on the Liard River, downstream from its confluence with the South Nahanni.... Read more

This idyllic park overlooks the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard rivers, yet is within walking distance of the centre of town. The adjoining Papal Site commemorates the 1987 visit of Pope John Paul ll. This is a... Read more

This popular park and campground are located at the junction of Highway 1 and the Trout River (Sambaa Deh in the Slavey language). The river was a traditional transportation route before and during the fur trade. The... Read more

Located in the heart of Inuvik, this park offers 19 powered and eight non-powered sites, and convenient access to the town’s attractions. The park is situated on a bluff overlooking the east branch of the Mackenzie... Read more

Just outside Inuvik, this park features an observation tower with excellent views of the surrounding scenery and prime bird-watching. Watch for falcons, eagles and ducks, our summer residents. There is an abundance of... Read more

This picturesque spot features six non-powered campsites. The area was devastated by a forest fire in 1981; nearly 40 years later it is now an ideal spot to observe how nature replenishes the land. Relax by the small... Read more

Located opn the scenic Buffalo River about 20 kilometres shy of Fort Resolution, this placid campground features 20 campsites, washrooms, a kitchen shleter and picnic area, firewood, a boat launch, and excellent fishing... Read more

This park is perched on a cliff overlooking the Peel River and surrounded by stands of white birch and white spruce trees. It's an ideal place to unwind for a few nights on the long journey up or down the Dempster. The... Read more

Nestled on the side of Caribou Creek approxiumately 40 kilometres north of Tsiigehtchic on the Dempster Highway, Vadzaih Van Tshik Campground is well-protected from the elements by the steep cliffs nearby... Read more

Enjoy the spectacular shoreline of Campbell Lake, try your luck fishing, hike in search of unique rocks and fossils, or hit the beach for a swim above the Arctic Circle. There are just a few of the options... Read more

On the banks of the Mackenzie River in Norman Wells, MacKinnon Territorial Park offers a great view of the Mackenzie Mountains and is a perfect stop for river-trippers. There are eight non-powered campsites,... Read more

Paddling brings us back to our basic rhythms. Our goal is to improve your kayaking and canoeing skills in an atmosphere of fun and friendship, and share our pristine land and water with you. You can count on our... Read more

Yellowknife Online produces Yellowknife specific articles and content for visitors, residents, and newcomers. Yellowknife Online has recently transferred that knowledge and information into a set of localized tours.... Read more

Yellowknife Sportfishing Adventures is a professional fishing charter company with a professional NWT fishing guide looking to help you catch trophy fish. We are a new company but have over 9 years of fishing... Read more

We are a local Aboriginal tour company based in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Our focus is on bringing fun and excitement into our cultural tour packages. We want you to create... Read more

We are a small business, owned and operated by a northern Indigenous family, catering largely to visiting families and friends, travellers and sightseers who wish to gain an understanding and participate in a taste of... Read more

At Nahanni Wild we outfit and guide canoe and raft trips on Canada's renowned South Nahanni River and a select offering of the finest mountain and tundra river trips across the North. Each of our adventures has been... Read more

Canoe North, located in Hay River, Northwest Territories offers kayak and canoe rentals and sales. We can set you up for a self guided trip on a number of northern rivers and the Great Slave... Read more

We run a small all-inclusive lodge that can handle ten people at a time. From this lodge we organize hunting parties, wildlife tours and photography parties. Hiking, ATV, and custom designed tours are available. Explore... Read more

Book your next training session and/or workshop at our all season day lodge accommodating up to 24 for meetings. Enjoy a natural setting along the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, accessible by road. Read more

Simpson Air (and its predecessor) is the oldest continuously-operated flying service in the Mackenzie Valley, established in the early 1960s. Air charters and flightseeing tours are our specialty.
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To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without traffic jams or urban clutter take you through vast landscapes with unrivaled vistas -... Read more

To truly experience the Northwest Territories, take your camping gear for a highway driving adventure! Long ribbons of road without traffic jams or urban clutter take you through vast landscapes with unrivaled vistas -... Read more

Come experience world-class Aurora Borealis viewing in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. We are the only guides in the Northwest Territories to offer services in Mandarin, Cantonese and English. With over 20... Read more

Your Dene Connection in Yellowknife. B. Dene Adventures is a Traditional Dene Culture Camp business which teaches the Dene way of life through our history, our language and our unique connection to the land. B. Dene... Read more

Paddle the Broken Skull River or go for the Triple Header: three rivers in one trip. Stop for epic hikes or soak in a hot spring in the traditional lands of the Shúhtaot’ine (Mountain Dene).
... Read more

Live a day in the life of an Eskimo! Specializing in polar bear and muskox hunts for up to four people from traditional camp near Tuktoyaktuk. Also providing scenic Pingo tours, beluga whale watching, bird watching and... Read more

Extend your trip to Fort Simpson with a visit to our Dene Camp, K'iyeli. We have options available for an afternoon, or overnight experience. You will learn about the people who have lived in the territory for... Read more

Our company is a tour management and booking services company. We are located at Yellowknife, NT Canada. Our clients come from all over the world. We can book hotels, local activities for every season. Our company has... Read more

To order your copy of the latest Spectacular Northwest Territories Explorers’ Guide, or to download a PDF of the guide, click the cover image on the right.

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